The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-01-07
BLEW THEM UP.
A Yankee Graft Astonishes Some
Chinese Pirates.


In 1875. owing to the wreck Of Bos-
ton brig in the China Sea. was left IN
Hong Kong in pretty bad shape. After
] had carried flag 81 distress. as you
might say. for two weeks. an English
man offered to LEI me work my passage
70 Liverpool. but as was about 10 ac-
cept il ran across countryman who
had berth for me. One If the largest
trading houses in Canton az that time
was composed II three Americans. and
they owned two small steamers and
three or four sail craft. These vessels
were employed in collecting goods
from the various islands 10 the South
east. and some ofthe voyages extended
up the Yellow Sea as far as Tcng-chow.
just AZ that time the firm had come
into possession Of new steamer. and
she was about TO make her first voyage.
There had been trouble with piratical
craft, and the steamer had been fitted
out to take care Of herself She car
ried two six-pounders. twenty Amcri-
can cavalry carbincs. a score Of re-
volvcrs and was fixed 70 throw hot wa
ter over boarsiers. Her compliment II
men was fifteen. Of whom the cook.
steward and three firemen were natives.
All others were Americans and English
men. The supcrcargo was an Amcri-
can. who could rattle Of the Chinese
language as well as the best Of EN-.
and the captain and some 81 the Others
could ''smatter" more or less.
Our first voyage was 10 be up the
Yellow Sea. and we carried load 81
American and English goods. The
cargo well deserved the name 81 ..mis-
cellaneous." There were mnskcfs.
fish. spears, sole leather. tinware. look
ing-glasscs. calicocs. buttons. stone
ware, lamps, fish metz. groceries. axes.
and almost every thing else you can
think Of, and the supcrcargo also car
ricd money TO purchase what we could
not traffic for. We were 10 pick up in
exchange whatever foreign markets
called for in Canton, which included
teas, rice, several species Of nuts, dye
stuifs, roots, barks. skins. &c.
was In luck to secure the place Of
mate, for Captain Tabor was splendid
fellow and the crew was one whic n
could be depended on. We had three
or four men who understood the hand
Ing 81 the six-pounders. from had been
sent over from the United States. and
with the supply Of small arms at hand
wcielt ourselves match for any thing
except regular gun-boat. We got
away IN good shape. ran up between
thc coast and the island Of Formosa.
ana Then steercd 10 the northeast 70
fetch the Lioo-Kioo Islands. which are
seven or eight in number and deal in
ginseng, sarsaparilla. and other mcdi-
sai roots. We stopped . day at Kc-
Lung. which Is at the northern end Of
formosa, and almost opposite Foo
CHOW, on the mainland. and while here
was noticed that the native members
-! our crew were very thick with lot
oi suspicious characters who were
hanging about Us the greater part Of
tne day. The supcrcarro overheard
.nem discussing our voyage and max
.ng many inquiries. and " hen he spoke u
me matter 70 the steward that pig-tailcd
gentleman explained that ali our ma
u'cs were related 20 the strangers who
nal been hanging about. and u course
sne latter took an interest in them.
! don't know Chinese character n